BOEING 377

The Boeing 377 Stratocruiser was a luxurious long-range postwar airliner with four piston-driven engines. It was a civilian version of the C-97 Stratofreighter.

Design and development
Like the C-97, the 377 was developed towards the end of World War II by adapting an enlarged upper fuselage onto the lower fuselage and wings which were essentially the same as the B-50 Superfortress, the high-performance evolution of the B-29 Superfortress bomber. The 377 was larger and longer ranged than the Lockheed Constellation and Douglas DC-6, with nonstop transatlantic range eastbound, but the P&W R-4360 Wasp Major engines proved uneconomical, with production ending in 1950.

6600 cubic feet of interior space was provided by the “inverted-figure-8” doubledeck fuselage design where the lower deck had a smaller diameter than the upper deck. It offered seating of over 100 passengers, or sleeping berths for up to 28 berthed and five seated passengers. It first flew on July 8, 1947. It had the speed and range to span ocean routes, enabling flying from New York to Hawaii in less than 24 hours. Pressurization (previously introduced on the previous Boeing Stratoliner and also designed into the B-29) allowed breathing sea-level while at an altitude of 15,500 feet (4,700 m). At 25,000 feet (7,600 m), passengers enjoyed a “cabin altitude” of only 5,500 feet (1,700 m).

Specifications

General characteristics

Capacity: Up to 100 passengers on main deck plus 14 in lower deck lounge; typical seating for 63 or 84 passengers or 28 berthed and five seated passengers.
Length: 110 ft 4 in (33.63 m)
Wingspan: 141 ft 3 in (43.05 m)
Height: 38 ft 3 in (11.66 m)
Wing area: 1769 ft² (164.3 m²)
Empty weight: 83,500 lb (37,876 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 148,000 lb (67,133 kg)
Powerplant: 4× Pratt & Whitney R-4360-B6 Wasp Major 28-cylinder radial engines four-bladed propellers, 3,500 hp (2,610 kW) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 375 mph (603 km/h)
Cruise speed: 301 mph (483 km/h)
Range: 3650 nm (6760 km, 4200 mi))
Service ceiling: 32,000 ft (9,800 m)
Max cruise: 340 mph (547 km/h)